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Kinda interesting story; pre-season speculation from 4 years ago is difficult to recall, at best. So, I'm not sure if I totally remember people thinking he'd be a linebacker. Wasn't Belichick attempting to do the same thing with Tank Williams (same year? year before?)?

Anyway, I'm guessing that this idea of safeties-at-LB is related to the "star" and "money" positions that Belichick came up with back in CLE w/ Nick Saban; highlighted below:

Alabama defense 101: nickel = Star, dime = Money, DBs = LBs | al.comThe extra defensive back in the nickel is called the ‚ÄúStar.‚ÄĚ The sixth DB in the dime plays the ‚ÄúMoney‚ÄĚ position. The terms for these important positions originated during Saban‚Äôs days as the defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns and coach Bill Belichick, from 1991-94. ‚ÄúIn the old days, I called the fifth defensive back nickel back, and we never really played six defensive backs,‚ÄĚ he said. The middle linebacker (Mike) and the weak inside linebacker (Will) stayed in the game, and a defensive back replaced the strong outside linebacker (Sam). ‚ÄúWell, when I went to Cleveland, everything that Bill Belichick does has some purpose, from what you call blitz to what you call fire-zone front,‚ÄĚ Saban said. ‚ÄúThe Star really is the Sam, so he wanted an s-word for that position. When you put six guys in the game, whether it's a sub linebacker or a sixth defensive back, we had nickel, dime, dollar. Different money terms." The sixth defensive back takes the place of the weak inside linebacker.

Lynch recalled the story while doing his commentary for the game on Sunday. He mentioned that the Patriots specifically wanted him to play Linebacker. The story ended with Lynch humorously recalling that when the Patriot let him go they told him he was a HOF safety, but a terrible linebacker.

He said that a few times - remember the playoff game where he was in Bradys face and very aggressive with him (the Ben Watson chase game) which was the first playoff game the pats lost post 2001 I belive.

The Giants have said similar things. On a few plays Brady was going down Tony Eason style before the D actually sacked him. Hes got to work on this, along with improved O line play of course.

Lynch recalled the story while doing his commentary for the game on Sunday. He mentioned that the Patriots specifically wanted him to play Linebacker. The story ended with Lynch humorously recalling that when the Patriot let him go they told him he was a HOF safety, but a terrible linebacker.

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That's weird. . . . the story that came out was that it was a mutual decision, not the "Patriots letting him go."

That's weird. . . . the story that came out was that it was a mutual decision, not the "Patriots letting him go."

Click to expand...

Lynch also indicated as much, saying that when Belichick called him in and told him that while he was a HOF safety he was a terrible linebacker, Lych admitted to BB that he totally agreed with that assessment